Beaver Meadows rehires police chief part-time

Beaver Meadows Borough Council rehired its former police chief to a part-time position last night.

Michael Morresi was renamed part-time police chief following the reorganizational meeting and a brief executive session.

Council eliminated the position of full-time chief in December as part of its new budget for 2012. Morresi's last day as full-time chief was Dec. 31. At the time council said it did not have the funds to pay for a full-time police chief salary.

According to Mayor William Hines there is only 24 hours per week in the budget for part-time police officers and Morresi will use almost all of that time.

Morresi sued the borough late last year in Carbon County court, alleging that the municipality was not living up to a contract he signed to be chief. He cited failure to receive various benefits outlined in the contract.

Council also agreed to appoint a committee to look into police coverage for the borough after Hines told them he had received a petition with hundreds of signatures on it in favor of keeping Morresi as full-time chief.